In September last year, that same taskforce busted an alleged multi-million-dollar cigarette smuggling operation that police say involved corrupt waterfront officials.

Twelve people were charged during that operation.

"This operation has shut down a significant syndicate allegedly involved in facilitating the importation of illicit goods into the country and distributing those goods into the community, as well as trafficking in commercial amounts of prohibited drugs," Polaris Waterfront Task Force Commander Detective Superintendent Nick Bingham told the ABC at the time.